BFTG - Birmingham (A)

[Hound]

talking of WhoScored, noticed Southwood is now the best rated keeper this season on there.

[Snowball]

Ejaria has delivered on expectations at times, if not completely consistently imo. He was very key to us being top 7 before xmas last year. Maybe not on your expectations but dont know what you were expecting. Again, if you check out other coaches' comments they nearly always pick him out as key. Whoscored rates him very highly. Puscas hasn't delivered on expectation. I'm not sure TDB has either tbh.

Yup!

I would DREAD Ejaria if he was playing for the opposition. He is often heavily marked (giving space to others), he often gets us out of tight defensive spots, he often tackles back well and those spindly legs somehow win a ball he has no right to win.

I guess he might be on a poor run as a few weeks ago he was 7th on WhoScored behind 3rd-placed Swift. I see he's 50-something ATM but still in the top 14% in the league (in a side that has just lost 4/5 games)

BTW Kudos to Luke Southwood now at 24th in the rankings and top-rated goalkeeper in the league ATM

[Hound]

I'd fully agree he has been pretty poor in the last set of games. But prior to that, thought he was good on our winning run

[Snowflake Royal]

I'd relish defending against Ejaria.

Bully him physically and just stand him up because he's going nowhere unless you commit.

[tidus_mi2]

I'd relish defending against Ejaria.

Bully him physically and just stand him up because he's going nowhere unless you commit.

Ejaria has shown countless times he can just play his way through players.

[Millsy]

Again, not sure how this thread is so focussed on anything other the very exciting prospect out of nowhere that is CLARKE.

But if we must talk Ejaria again, yeah he's good. I can see the annoyance of him just slowing things down for no reason, seems like all he likes to do is dribble so even if he goes past someone he seems to want to stop , come back, and then dribble them again! Rather than just look for quick pass and make decisions.

BUT that's just his game and he's improving. We really miss him when he doesn't play. He always attracts several players and frees up space for others. He runs back and defends well out of nowhere too. I really don't like him on the wing, but he is still an absolute must start. Like anyone though when he's tired he's tired.

[Nameless]

I'd relish defending against Ejaria.

Bully him physically and just stand him up because he's going nowhere unless you commit.

I suspect Ejaria would relish playing against you !
Your comments smack of never having seen him play. Try and bully him and you’ll find you’ve missed him. It’s really not going to be a successful ploy against someone with such quick feet and the ability to play a one touch pass or beat you with a dribble. You have to double up on him, one closing him down and a backup for when you dances past the first man.

[Hound]

I'd relish defending against Ejaria.
.

lol

[CountryRoyal]

I'd relish defending against Ejaria.
.

lol

I would too. No matter what they’re going to get past me, at least with Ejaria I could stand still and get a breather before they do.

I’m sure that’s what Ian meant too

[Hound]

I can see the annoyance of him just slowing things down for no reason, seems like all he likes to do is dribble so even if he goes past someone he seems to want to stop , come back, and then dribble them again! Rather than just look for quick pass and make decisions.
.

I just don't see this this year. In the past, he has definitely been guilty of keeping the ball too long (not the stupid slow things down cliche which was never a thing), but he looks to me this year to be dribbling far less, and generally trying to move the ball quickly forwards. Bear in mind he also needs forward options to pass to which are pretty limited for whatever reason.

[leon]

I'd relish defending against Ejaria.
.

lol

“Bully him”

Chuckleathon

[Hound]

I'd relish defending against Ejaria.
.

lol

“Bully him”

Chuckleathon

its actually proper brightened up an otherwise generally shit Monday that original post

[Millsy]

I can see the annoyance of him just slowing things down for no reason, seems like all he likes to do is dribble so even if he goes past someone he seems to want to stop , come back, and then dribble them again! Rather than just look for quick pass and make decisions.
.

I just don't see this this year. In the past, he has definitely been guilty of keeping the ball too long (not the stupid slow things down cliche which was never a thing), but he looks to me this year to be dribbling far less, and generally trying to move the ball quickly forwards. Bear in mind he also needs forward options to pass to which are pretty limited for whatever reason.

I agree, there's definitely been an improvement this year. But also I've noticed more what people have been talking about when they say he just seems to get it and slow everything down. I think I was blind to it last year because I liked him so much, so although I'm noticing it more now yes it's almost certainly less of an issue. Agreed he needs options to pass to.

[Snowflake Royal]

I'd relish defending against Ejaria.
.

lol

I would too. No matter what they’re going to get past me, at least with Ejaria I could stand still and get a breather before they do.

I’m sure that’s what Ian meant too

I assumed we were talking from the point of view of being Championship quality defenders. Otherwise I wouldn’t relish marking someone who used to play for Blyth Spartans, having failed miserably to on Friday.

[Snowflake Royal]

lol

“Bully him”

Chuckleathon

its actually proper brightened up an otherwise generally shit Monday that original post

Pleasure.

[Millsy]

lol

I would too. No matter what they’re going to get past me, at least with Ejaria I could stand still and get a breather before they do.

I’m sure that’s what Ian meant too

I assumed we were talking from the point of view of being Championship quality defenders.

Yep.

Championship quality defenders relish it so much that often there are three of them gravitating towards him at any once time. Can't keep them away - popular chap!

[Snowflake Royal]

I would too. No matter what they’re going to get past me, at least with Ejaria I could stand still and get a breather before they do.

I’m sure that’s what Ian meant too

I assumed we were talking from the point of view of being Championship quality defenders.

Yep.

Championship quality defenders relish it so much that often there are three of them gravitating towards him at any once time. Can't keep them away - popular chap!

Tbf, I do love defending against twinkle toes when I play. It's an interesting challenge. They're always better than me and it forces me to up my game. I'll usually try harder than them and if they beat me it's entertaining because we're friends.

I hate defending against pacey direct runners. Because they'll leave me for dead.

So yeah, if I was a Championship defender give me Ejaria over defending against Halilovic.

[Millsy]

I assumed we were talking from the point of view of being Championship quality defenders.

Yep.

Championship quality defenders relish it so much that often there are three of them gravitating towards him at any once time. Can't keep them away - popular chap!

Tbf, I do love defending against twinkle toes when I play. It's an interesting challenge. They're always better than me and it forces me to up my game. I'll usually try harder than them and if they beat me it's entertaining because we're friends.

I hate defending against pacey direct runners. Because they'll leave me for dead.

So yeah, if I was a Championship defender give me Ejaria over defending against Halilovic.

Heh fair enough.

If someone tries twinkle toes BS around me I get pissed off and end up trying to break their legs.

I wouldn't stay on the pitch 2mins against someone like him.

Quite possibly why Pauno hasn't called me up to play yet.

[Snowflake Royal]

Yep.

Championship quality defenders relish it so much that often there are three of them gravitating towards him at any once time. Can't keep them away - popular chap!

Tbf, I do love defending against twinkle toes when I play. It's an interesting challenge. They're always better than me and it forces me to up my game. I'll usually try harder than them and if they beat me it's entertaining because we're friends.

I hate defending against pacey direct runners. Because they'll leave me for dead.

So yeah, if I was a Championship defender give me Ejaria over defending against Halilovic.

Heh fair enough.

If someone tries twinkle toes BS around me I get pissed off and end up trying to break their legs.

I wouldn't stay on the pitch 2mins against someone like him.

Quite possibly why Pauno hasn't called me up to play yet.

He's also really soft. Very lean and often looks for fouls he doesn't get on a bit of manhandling. Hence the get physical.

Stick one on him first 15 minutes as a first offence to minimise chances of a yellow. And just keep jockying. Get a bit of back up and boom. His assist and goal stats become.sub par.

His game hasn't improved in about 2 years now.

[Snowflake Royal]

Yep.

Championship quality defenders relish it so much that often there are three of them gravitating towards him at any once time. Can't keep them away - popular chap!

Tbf, I do love defending against twinkle toes when I play. It's an interesting challenge. They're always better than me and it forces me to up my game. I'll usually try harder than them and if they beat me it's entertaining because we're friends.

I hate defending against pacey direct runners. Because they'll leave me for dead.

So yeah, if I was a Championship defender give me Ejaria over defending against Halilovic.

Heh fair enough.

If someone tries twinkle toes BS around me I get pissed off and end up trying to break their legs.

I wouldn't stay on the pitch 2mins against someone like him.

Quite possibly why Pauno hasn't called me up to play yet.

He's also really soft. Very lean and often looks for fouls he doesn't get on a bit of manhandling. Hence the get physical.

Stick one on him first 15 minutes as a first offence to minimise chances of a yellow. And just keep jockying. Get a bit of back up and boom. His assist and goal stats become.sub par.

If he does beat you, either your mate will get him, or he'll have checked back / be moving so slowly you can get back in him 80%/90% of the time

His game hasn't improved in about 2 years now.